6 Things You Need to Start a Family Devotion
You’ve got to commit to consistency.
For us, we try to change things up once a week. Monday through Thursday, we do a Bible study and prayer (probably around 15 minutes), but Friday is different. On Friday, everyone shares one specific thing they are thankful for that week, and one prayer request. For a while, those prayer requests were pretty predictable... Continue Reading
Missions: The Fruit of a Deep Jealousy
Jesus is displaying God’s righteous jealousy for His glory.
To be jealous for God is to be burdened when other nations praise and worship false gods. To be jealous for God is to see men exalted and to be filled with holy zeal. To be jealous for God is to want to bring in the atheist nations so that they can give God the... Continue Reading
3 Things You Should Know about Obadiah
The prophet proclaims the Lord’s judgment against the nation of Edom (Obad. 1–4, 8–10), a small country but one that lived with a sense of ease and security that had developed into boastful pride (Obad. 3, 12).
Obadiah speaks not only of judgment on Edom but also of the “day of the Lord” (Obad. 15), which will bring judgment on all nations (Obad. 16) and deliverance for God’s people (Obad. 17). At first glance, it sounds as if these will take place at the same time. However, the biblical prophets regularly collapse together... Continue Reading
The Sovereignty of God in the Suffering of His People Part II – Glorifying God in Our Suffering
Suffering is a gift from God that is a fantastic Spiritual growth opportunity.
Job has just found out in repeated hammer blows of bad news that all of his wealth is gone and his family is no more. He tore his robe and shaved his head in grief. However, did he curse or blame God? He recognized that God allowed it to happen and that God is sovereign... Continue Reading
Church that Is Real
What does that kind of church look like?
A church that is real will not be too quick to judge but will rather be honest enough to recognise that each member sins, each member has their own struggles and each member – if they nevertheless love Jesus and want to obey his commands – is saved by grace and fully accepted by him.... Continue Reading
7 Essential Things to Know about the Holiness of God
God’s holiness reveals our utter sinfulness.
We think God won’t mind a few sins here and there. The problem with this thinking is that we don’t get it. We don’t get how holy God is, and we don’t get how sinful we are. Isaiah understood it when he saw a vision of the Lord in his glory. He cried out, And... Continue Reading
True Hate Speech
While we may debate what constitutes hate speech, it is clear from Scripture that hateful speech is sinful—and that God takes it very seriously.
Our culture calls many things “hate speech”, but Scripture clearly defines it as any speech which denigrates people’s nature as God’s image-bearers and any speech—or silence—that promotes sinful and destructive behavior. In order to love our neighbors as ourselves, we must pray for them, acknowledge their personhood, and lovingly seek their good by confronting sin... Continue Reading
Why Does Jesus Say No One Is Good but God Alone?
Jesus is an incredible teacher, the very best. And good teachers don’t just teach directly. They teach indirectly also.
When Jesus says, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone,” he is really saying that he is indeed good, and therefore he is God. The rich young ruler, merely intending to be respectful, was speaking more truly than he knew. His standard of goodness was woefully insufficient, as proved by his assessment... Continue Reading
The Comforting Truth of God’s Sovereignty
Why Is this Good News?
God is in control and he is working all things for my good. Whatever comes my way, whether success or failure, victory or defeat, celebration or mourning, all have passed through the hands of my Father who loves me. Everything in my life is being used by God to sanctify me and bring me closer... Continue Reading
Killing Fear
Unchecked fear leads us to question God's goodness, doubt His promises, and indict His character and love for us.
To combat fear, we must trust and confide in God’s character and promises. Scripture is replete with God’s promises to be with us, provide for us, protect us, comfort us, care for us, resource us, redeem us, sanctify us, and bring us into eternal glory. Hoping in God means knowing His promises and relying on... Continue Reading
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